CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Angela cupped her hands around the disposable cup and lifted it to take a sip of her mocha latte. As the delicious combination of chocolate and coffee slid down her throat, she hummed in appreciation and contentment.
She couldn’t believe that Jude had actually acted on the feelings he had for her. Though she’d sensed he might have felt drawn to her, she hadn’t been convinced that he’d jeopardize his career for her.
But he had.
And now she was sitting there with him, drinking coffee together, on what he'd called their first date.
The silence between them felt comfortable, like they'd known each other for years instead of weeks. Through the windshield, she watched as the snow-laden pines created a tunnel of green and white along the winding road. The heater hummed quietly, keeping the winter chill at bay.
"What are you thinking about?" Jude asked, his deep voice breaking the silence.
Angela turned to look at him, observing his profile as he drove. The firm line of his jaw, the way his dark hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck, the steady confidence in his hands on the steering wheel.
Her heart did a little flip in her chest.
"I'm thinking that this feels… nice." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "Unexpected, but wonderful."
Jude glanced at her, the corner of his mouth lifting in that small smile that seemed reserved just for her. "Unexpected is one way to put it."
"Did you ever think when you first met me in Briar Hollow that we'd end up here?"
He shook his head, his eyes returning to the road. "Not even close. I was focused on getting you and Kiara safely to the estate. That was all that mattered then."
"And now?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Jude was quiet for a moment, and Angela wondered if it was too soon to delve deeply like that.
“Now, all I can think about is how much I enjoy being around you, and it has nothing to do with keeping you safe.” He gave a huff of laughter. “Well, not nothing, because I do still want you to be safe.”
Angela took another sip of her drink. “And I want to be safe. I also want you to be safe.”
They continued to chat as Jude guided the car around curves, pointing out different things they drove by. Interspersed with that they shared personal experiences and opinions. It was the perfect way to learn a bit more about each other.
She’d learned that he did, in fact, have a best friend. For some reason, she’d assumed his focused life had precluded friendships. Especially close ones.
“Cooper and his family would love to meet you,” Jude said.
“Really?” Angela asked.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t they? You’re wonderful.”
Angela gave a little laugh as she pressed the rim of her cup against her chin. “I’m glad you think so.”
“I’m not the only one who thinks so. I’m sure Kiara does, and Duncan definitely does. You’re sweet and generous, which are qualities most people admire.” Jude glanced over at her. “I know Kiara is your best friend, but did you have any other close friends in Briar Hollow?”
Angela gave a little chuckle. “Yep. All the grandmas at church.”
“What?”
“After I’d been working at the bakery for a little while, I met an older woman.
She’d come in a couple of days a week for a cinnamon bun, and after she ate it, she’d sit at one of the small tables we had and would chat with people as they came in.
During lulls, she’d chat with me if I came to the front. ”
“That sounds pleasantly… small town.”
“It was,” Angela agreed with a grin. “It was one of the good things about Briar Hollow, and my boss, Patty, couldn’t say anything about it because Ida was her aunt.
Ida and Patty were night and day in how they treated people, however.
Which is why Ida ended up offering the apartment in her basement to us. ”
“Oh, she was your landlady?” Jude asked.
“Yes. And for the short time we had her, she was wonderful. She was also the reason I began to go to church. After her persistent invitations, I finally caved, figuring if I went once, it would satisfy her.”
“Did it?”
“Not really. I went one Sunday, and even though I enjoyed it, I didn’t go back. So… the invitations began again. Next time I went, she introduced me to all of her friends, and after that, I just kept going.”
“Why haven’t you asked about church here?” Jude asked.
“Well, I knew I couldn’t go to one in Serenity, and Coeur d’Alene seemed a little far to ask someone to drive me. I’ve been watching the Briar Hollow church’s livestream.”
“They have a livestream?”
Angela smiled. “They’re surprisingly up to date on technical things there, which I’ve appreciated since moving here.”
“Well, I go to church in Coeur d’Alene, so you’re welcome to come with me. Just don’t expect a highly social experience since I don’t tend to stick around much when the service is over.”
“I didn’t socialize a lot at church either. That happened if I went to the Wednesday afternoon knitting circle.”
“You knit?”
“I do. Sandra had Kiara and I learn that, along with some basic sewing.”
“Do you wish you were still there?”
Angela took another sip of her drink as she considered her answer. “There are aspects of life there that I miss—like the church and the people in the knitting circle. But unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good. So, no, I don’t wish I was still there. Besides, there is not where you are.”
A smile lifted the corner of Jude’s mouth. “That is true, which is why I’m glad you’re here.”
After an hour of driving around, they headed back to the estate. It had been the perfect way to spend the afternoon, and Angela hoped they could do it again soon.
“How are we supposed to act around people here?” Angela asked as they pulled up to the gate.
Jude gave the guys at the gate a salute as he drove through the open gate. “I’d prefer that during work hours, we keep things professional when we’re around others. After hours, however, we can be more relaxed.”
Angela thought it might be a challenge to be completely professional, but she would try. Because Jude had asked it of her. She knew that because his job and personal life were so intertwined, it was important to be respectful of his request.
“Thank you for this time,” Angela said as Jude pulled the car into the large garage. “It’s been wonderful.”
After he’d pulled into one of the spots, he turned the engine off but didn’t make a move to exit the car. Instead, he turned to face her, his eyes filled with an emotion she hadn’t seen from him before.
Her guess—her hope—was that it was affection. Maybe something more.
“I’ve gotta get back to the office,” he said, reaching out to take her hand. “But I’ll give you a call later.”
Angela smiled at him as anticipation filled her. “I’ll be waiting.”
He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “I enjoyed our time together, and I can’t wait until we can do it again.”
“Me too.”
As they got out of the car, Angelica wondered if he’d hug or kiss her, but he didn’t. She wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or disappointed.
Probably relieved, because she didn’t want their first kiss to be in a garage with cameras focused on them. She suspected that Jude felt the same way, especially because it was still technically business hours.
After taking the empty cups from the car, she said goodbye to Jude, then headed into the house. She tossed the cups into the trash before heading upstairs to find Kiara. She really needed to talk to her sister.
At Kiara’s door, she knocked, then opened it. She found Kiara curled up on the loveseat, her phone in her hand. That was usually how she read, so Angela figured that was what she was doing.
Kiara looked up at her as she approached. “Where have you been?”
She grinned as she dropped down onto the armchair. Pulling her legs up to the seat, she wrapped her arms around them. She rested her chin on her knees. “On a date.”
“Say what?” Kiara set her phone aside and turned her full attention on Angela. “With who?”
“Jude.” A smile came to her face as she said his name.
“I’m so confused. I thought Jude said that relationships were a distraction.”
He had definitely said that, but evidently he’d changed his mind. Or maybe he still believed that, but he also wanted to be with her.
“He talked to Duncan about it,” Angela said. “And he told Jude that he didn’t have a problem with it and would stay out of it, leaving it up to the two of us to figure this out.”
“And you think this is a good idea?” Kiara asked.
It was the first time Angela had heard skepticism in her sister’s voice.
When she’d told Kiara how she felt about Jude, she’d seemed supportive of her feelings.
But maybe that had been because Kiara had figured that the possibility of a relationship between the two of them was unlikely.
That Jude would never be interested in her.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Angela said. “Jude is an honorable man. He is strong and protective.”
“He’s boring,” Kiara said.
“He is not,” Angela protested.
“So where did you go on your date?”
Angela hesitated, knowing that that information wouldn’t change Kiara’s mind about Jude being boring.
“We got coffee and went for a drive.”
Kiara laughed. “Like I said… boring.”
“It wasn’t boring,” Angela told her, lowering her legs to the floor. She slipped her hands under her thighs and leaned forward. “It was perfect for us.”
“It wouldn’t be for me,” Kiara said.
“Yes, I know. We’ve always had different ideas of what a perfect date would be.”
“And apparently different ideas of who the perfect man is too.”
“Jude is a great man,” Angela said. “I know he’s not perfect, but then neither am I.”
Kiara shrugged. “I guess if he makes you happy, that’s what matters most.”
Angela appreciated the sentiment, but she didn’t think Kiara was completely sincere.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Kiara said. “Just bored. Never would have thought I’d miss working.”
“How about college courses?”